A Conspiracy of Alchemists: By Liesel Schwarz

A CONSPIRACY OF ALCHEMISTS 

SUMMARY

In a Golden Age where spark reactors power the airways, and creatures of Light and Shadow walk openly among us, a deadly game of Alchemists and Warlocks has begun.

When an unusual cargo drags airship-pilot Elle Chance into the affairs of the mysterious Mr. Marsh, she must confront her destiny and do everything in her power to stop the Alchemists from unleashing a magical apocalypse.

REVIEW

While at times a bit more Victorian than I like, A Conspiracy of Alchemists was one of the best steampunk books I’ve read. (in keeping with being open and honest I haven’t read a lot of steampunk, possibly a dozen or so)

But what I liked most about A Conspiracy of Alchemists was Schwarz’s world building. Schwarz does a terrific job of bringing readers into the world of magic and Victorian science seamlessly intermingling descriptions of contraptions and spark reactors without taking away from the pacing of the story or the development of the characters.

The bits of mystery and intrigue gained from the in-between chapters, narrator from the onlooker (don’t want to give anything away) are fantastic and kept me captivated as with the addition of each of these it was a quick peek into the future of the story arc and the mysteries that await readers and character alike. Further it was from these glimpses that readers will be introduced into the broader world that Schwarz has created giving insight into the realms of magic that Elle will experience.

That said, while I really liked Elle's spunk and determination to take care of herself, there were moments when her independence and refusal for help were just plain idiotic. Also, her pivot from outright rejection of her heritage to acceptance seemed too abrupt, too conveniently played. That said, there may be ramifications for this that I haven’t seen yet as there are currently two more books scheduled in the series.

All in all I liked Schwarz’s debut novel. I thought it had a lot of potential and I’m curious to see where she and Elle go next in the series.

INFO

Publisher: Del Rey

Published: March 5, 2013

Price: $25.00

Link to Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Conspiracy-Alchemists-Chronicles-Light-Shadow/dp/0345545079/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366697031&sr=1-1&keywords=a+conspiracy+of+alchemists

manicpixiedreamgirl: By Tom Leveen

MANICPIXIEDREAMGIRL

SUMMARY

Sometimes the most dramatic scenes in a high school theater club are the ones that happen between the actors and crew off stage.

Seventeen-year-old Tyler Darcy's dream of being a writer is starting to feel very real now that he's sold his first short story to a literary journal. He should be celebrating its publication with his two best friends who've always had his back, but on this night, a steady stream of texts from his girlfriend Sidney keep intruding. So do the memories of his dream girl, Becky, who's been on his mind a little too much since the first day of high school. Before the night is over, Ty might just find the nerve to stop all the obsessing and finally take action. 

REVIEW

I hadn’t read any of Tom Leveen’s books before reading manicpixiedreamgirl, but after reading manicpixiedreamgirl I want to see what else he’s written.

Manicpixiedreamgirl is an interesting story. First, Leveen doesn’t pull he punches in making his protagonist Tyler say or do the “right” thing in terms of his girlfriend Sydney. Leveen focuses on the complexity of liking someone while dating someone else. Tyler, who readers will both dislike and empathize with is a fantastic protagonist. He is so completely wrapped up in his own imaginary image of this perfect girl that he is unable to come to terms with her reality.

The story is told on one night with flashbacks to the creation of Tyler’s current situation, slowly unraveling the truth from what was initially perceived, until finally ending with the present, and the continuation of the night.

That said what I liked most about manicpixiedreamgirl is how real this book is. Some aspects may seem a bit far fetched but most of it strikes home in reality. Between the shattering of an idealized person on the slow and resistant discovery of their true selves, to the reluctance to leave your comfort zone in order to go after what you think you want, and how your inability to make this separation hurts everyone involved. All of these lessons are true and will resonate with readers of all ages.

All in all I really liked manicpixiedreamgirl. I thought it was engaging, had an interesting story, had likable characters, and most importantly it left me wanting to read more and find out what happened next. The only issue I had with it is almost a complement to the book in that I liked Tyler’s friends Robby and Justin and would have liked more stories involving them, heck I wouldn’t mind a spin off from either of their POV.  

INFO

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Published: April 23, 2013

Price: $16.99

Link to Buy: http://www.amazon.com/manicpixiedreamgirl-Tom-Leveen/dp/0375870059/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366693635&sr=8-1&keywords=manicpixiedreamgirl

Taken: By Erin Bowman

TAKEN

SUMMARY

There are no men in Claysoot.

There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends . . . and he's gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby's eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he's prepared to meet his fate—until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he's been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets, the Heist itself, and what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot—a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken—or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

REVIEW

Taken started off excellent. It introduced a protagonist that was likable and more than a little relatable in Gray. It then quickly established a question sure to intrigue readers, with the first Heist in the story occurring to Blaine, Gray’s brother. The Heist is a great idea by author, Erin Bowman. It adds a flair to the story that keeps the reader glued to their seats, at the very least just to find out the truth behind the Heist. Not only that, but Bowman does a fantastic job on the first section of the book making sure not to rush anything. She gives Gray time to grieve, time to fall in love, and time to discover small truths all without overly delaying the story or detracting from the readers enjoyment.

Unfortunately this pace doesn’t last throughout the entire book, and this is my biggest critique, for the second section of the book felt as if it jumped through time, rushing characters to act in ways that wouldn’t make sense and giving to much credit to Gray for his escape. Frank’s actions for treating Gray so special because he is a twin are never really addressed, nor is the great mystery of being a twin and why that attracts so much attention.

Other than that I really liked Taken. It had action, surprises, and a believable love situation. That actually is what I liked most about the book, how well thought out most of the characters actions and decisions were. Gray is not a military god overnight, nor does he know every aspect of every plan, he is instead a pawn in a much larger game being played around him. That is actually one of the reasons why the second section’s pacing bothered me so much, because unlike the rest of the story, some of the character’s actions didn’t make sense for the length of time Gray had been there.

All in all I really enjoyed the book. It had fun characters that were for the most part really well thought out and relatable, action, and an interesting plot. Definitely give it a try.

INFO

Publisher: HarperTeen

Published: April 16, 2013

Price: $17.99

Link to Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Taken-Erin-Bowman/dp/0062117262/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366428149&sr=1-3&keywords=taken

This Is What Happy Looks Like: By Jennifer E. Smith

THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE

SUMMARY

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs? 

REVIEW

This is What Happy Looks Like was fun, happy, and just a plain enjoyable read. It was one of those books that you finish and you just feel better and happier than you did when you started. I phrase it that way because it’s not a long book, of course, it doesn’t need to be. It is a piece of life, a slice taken from the summer of two teen lovers. Two people who would have never given each other the time of day and now from an accidental email connected on a deeper level.

I think another way to put this book is a YA love story that isn’t cheesy, but instead well done. It’s not a great surprise, there are not events that you are shocked to read. But what it is a an adventure over the summer, a story told from both characters point of view that allows the reader to be engulfed in the ups and downs of this short but deep relationship.

I know this review may be short, but I’m not sure what else to say. I loved the characters, the story moved at a quick pace, it was a story of love, relationships, and seeing someone for who they truly are, and I personally loved it. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick but touching read.

INFO

Publisher: Poppy

Published: April 2, 2013

Price: $17.99

Link to Buy: http://www.amazon.com/This-What-Happy-Looks-Like/dp/0316212822/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365010068&sr=1-1&keywords=this+is+what+happy+looks+like

The Silver Dream: An InterWorld Novel: By Neil Gaiman, Michael Reaves, Mallory Reaves

THE SILVER DREAM

SUMMARY

After mastering the ability to walk between dimensions, Joey Harker and his fellow InterWorld freedom fighters are now on a mission to maintain peace between the rival powers of magic and science who seek to control all worlds.

When a stranger named Acacia somehow follows Joey back to InterWorld's base, things get complicated. No one knows who she is or where she's from—or how she knows so much about InterWorld.

Dangerous times lie ahead for Joey and the mission. There's a traitor hidden among them, and if Joey has any hope of saving InterWorld, the multiverse, and the mission, he's going to have to rely on his wits—and, just possibly, on the mysterious Acacia Jones.

REVIEW

I read InterWorld a few years ago when it came out and remember at the time wanting there to be a sequel. To me it seemed like the kind of book that could be extended into stories of rescues and missions, much like James Bond or Simon R. Green’s Nightside series. So I was pretty psyched when I heard that Gaiman was making a new book in the series.

All in all, I have to say, I’m pretty pleased with it.

While fans of the first book in the series will enjoy this second book in the now series in a way that people who haven’t read the first book will not, after having read The Silver Dream it doesn’t seem that necessary for new readers to have to read the first InterWorld book to understand what is going in the series. Gaiman and co-authors Michael and Mallory Reaves, do a great job of balancing new material with catching readers up with what happened before.

As for the substance of the book, it’s very similar to the first InterWorld book, Joey is still somewhat an outcast, he is still resourceful, and there are new mysteries he’s forced to solve. We still don’t know why he’s different from the other Joeys but we do know that he is treated as such. Of course, besides lots of action and multiple missions, readers will be shocked and surprised with the new twists introduced into the second book in the series including; Acacia, TimeWatch, the betrayals, and secrets about the Old Man.

All in all, The Silver Dream is a second book in the InterWorld series. I’m glad this series was resurrected, but this book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger. I enjoyed it, and would recommend it for readers looking for action, YA style drama, and a quick read.

INFO

Publisher: HarperTeen

Published: April 23, 2013

Price: $18.99

Link to Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Dream-InterWorld-Novel/dp/0062067966/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365009688&sr=1-1&keywords=the+silver+dream